OREANDA-NEWS. The Union Ministry of Agriculture, Department of Animal Husbandry, Dairying and Fisheries (DAHDF) has notified an outbreak of Avian Influenza (H5N1) among poultries in the state of Kerala. The Department of Animal Husbandry has instituted a series of measures including culling of birds, safe disposal and sanitisation. This will mitigate the risk to humans. As a matter of abundant caution, the state of Kerala has implemented contingency plan for active surveillance of suspect human cases.

The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has deputed a central team comprising of clinicians and public health specialists to the state to institute surveillance and response measures, and submit the report immediately.

Shri J P Nadda, Minister for Health and Family Welfare Minister has taken note of this and spoken to CM, Kerala, Shri Oommen Chandy and assured him all assistance to deal with it.